IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its supporters have protected more than 2.7 million acres (1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, science-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.
Purpose and General Description:
The Manager of Stewardship oversees stewardship delivery across the region, ensuring that all fee simple and conservation easement lands are monitored and managed in accordance with NCC’s policies, procedures, standards and guidelines. With regards to fee simple properties, the Manager of Stewardship oversees preparations for field season activities, including staff recruitment and training, and field program delivery. With regards to conservation easement lands, the Manager of Stewardship acts as regional Conservation Agreement Supervisor reviewing all conservation easement monitoring reports and coordinating with national over the resolution of compliance issues. As well, in consultation with other regional and national staff, the Manager of Stewardship leads the development of science-based regional stewardship guidelines. The Manager of Stewardship also manages the Stewardship Support Team.
The Manager of Stewardship reports to the Senior Director of Conservation and works closely with all members of the regional and national conservation teams, as well as external consultants and other partners relevant to this position.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Stewardship Planning and Delivery (60%):
- Review Baseline Inventories and Property Management Plans for NCC-owned properties to ensure regional consistency and compliance with national and regional policies and guidelines ;
- Oversee regional planning and preparations for the field season, including intern hiring and staff training;
- Oversee and coordinate the collection and management of information about stewardship activities undertaken on NCC properties;
- Oversee regional stewardship delivery programs, including development, budgeting, implementation and reporting;
- Oversee, where required, the updating and/or amendment of conservation easements or Baseline Documentation Reports ;
- Provide overall management advice and strategies for land use and conservation activities on all NCC fee simple and conservation easement properties;
Policy Development (10%):
- Oversee the development of regional policies on region-wide stewardship issues and initiatives (e.g. grazing leases, carnivore conflicts, invasive species management, fire management, access management, fencing, etc.);
- Lead in the development of streamlined procedures for all stewardship work (e.g. monitoring, data collection, reporting, etc);
- Represent NCC-Alberta on national initiatives aimed at updating policies and procedures relating to stewardship.
External Relations and Partnerships (10%)
- Represent NCC on various committees and at meetings or workshops related to land stewardship;
- In collaboration with other members of the conservation operations team, foster positive relationships with private and public property landowners within priority landscapes in Alberta through personal contact, workshops, program newsletters and other innovative approaches to promoting conservation;
- Provide leadership and assist conservation staff in developing and maintaining partnerships with other conservation organizations and develop plans and agreements for long-term management of all NCC-owned properties or properties where NCC provided financial assistance;
Management and Administration (10%):
- Manage the Stewardship Support Team. Specific duties include:
- Providing support and guidance as needed;
- Coordinating and reviewing monthly billing;
- Overseeing annual workplanning and ongoing priority setting;
- Performance management and appraisal;
- Approving vacation and other leave requests.
Development and Communications (10 %):
- In collaboration with regional development staff, lead on the development of funding proposals supportive of the stewardship program;
Assist the communications department on stewardship-related communications initiatives of regional scope.
Required Skills and Attributes:
- University degree and at least 5 years professional experience in landscape ecology, conservation biology, natural resource management, or related field;
- Extensive experience in on-the-ground conservation work is essential;
- Knowledge of conservation planning theory is highly desirable;
- Demonstrated ability to organize and integrate complex information from diverse disciplines in support of conservation planning;
- Strong organizational, communication and presentation skills, including demonstrated experience in making public presentations;
- Ability to understand and interpret land-related legal documents including conservation easements;
- Ability to work as a team member and facilitate the exchange of ideas;
- Flexibility, reliability, self motivation, and ability to work both independently and as a leader;
- Project management skills, including excellent problem solving, planning and organizational skills, budgeting, and meeting deadlines;
- Demonstrated ability to manage staff and/or volunteers;
- Willingness and ability to travel, often and on short notice, and be available for consultation, advice and leadership on an on-call basis; and
- Ability to work in rugged terrain and remote environments.
Committed to the mission and values of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Terms of Employment:
- This is a full-time, permanent position, to be filled in September 2015;
- The position is preferably located in Calgary.
To Apply:
Interested applicants should forward their cover letter and resume, as a single pdf document, quoting “Manager of Stewardship – Alberta”: to: careers@natureconservancy.ca
Application Deadline: August 31, 2015
No telephone calls please.
We thank everyone who applies for their interest in the Nature Conservancy of Canada; however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
